MIDI Keyboard Question - Synth Module?

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 1 Jul 2004 5:28 am

I got an M-Audio 49e MIDI Keyboard to use for home recording projects. It sounds great with built in sounds in Apple's Garage Band program. Cheap too ($129).
Of course I already have the computer.

Once my band heard it, they requested I do a few Piano parts live. OK with me, but I don't want to take the expensive computer out to the clubs.

Any reccomemdations on a simple, low priced unit that I can connect to the keyboard to give me basic Piano and Organs sounds?

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 1 Jul 2004 10:54 am

If you can find one on Ebay, your cheapest option would be a Yamaha CBX T3 GM module. Later, smaller versions are called MU5 and MU10.
If you want something more exotic, try for a Roland 1010 or a Korg X5R.
They have all the standard Midi voices, the General Midi set, but some gorgeous big synth sounds too.
Rather rarer but absolutely superb for pianos and Hammonds etc. is the EMu Pro plus.
That just has twelve very high quality piano and organ sounds, but it is so simple to use that it makes a coke stove seem complicated.

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Cheers!
Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 01 July 2004 at 11:57 AM.][This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 01 July 2004 at 11:58 AM.]

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 2 Jul 2004 10:27 am

I have the same thing and use a Kurzweil Micro Piano module. Love it.

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 2 Jul 2004 10:43 am

Here's a nice one:- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1289&item=3733091063&rd=1
or even better there's this:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38091&item=3733894846&rd=1
or one of these:- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1289&item=5104960841&rd=1

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Cheers!
Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 02 July 2004 at 11:43 AM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 2 Jul 2004 3:08 pm

Thanks guys.

The KURZWEIL MICROPIANO is exactly what I need.

I found a used one locally, and will be checking out Sunday.

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 7 Jul 2004 6:24 am

Joey, now that you're set up with keyboard, you'll be tempted to jig it up right on top of your steel, which is what I do.
Those small 49 key midi keyboards are just the right size.
I made little legs that align on my single neck and it works pretty good.
Let me know if you pursue this as I'm thinking of another way to do this also.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 7 Jul 2004 11:36 am

Putting it on top of the Steel is not an option because it is sometimes used at the same time as the Steel.

I play it instead of Steel when a Piano is needed, such as Reba's "Why Haven't I Heard From You, but I'm also teaching our Chick Singer to play some simple things on keys when I'm on Steel.

It's working out great for Alan's "Remember When", which I play Mandolin and Steel on. The keyboard is set for "String Pads" and she plays single notes (1645) in the proper places and it sounds awesome.

I've still thinking about other keyboard stand options.

Ideas welcome.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 28 Jul 2004 1:30 pm

Follow Up

I've found my solution, thanks in part to the above advice.
I'm using a Kurtzweil Micro Piano module (not in photos) and an Oxygen 8 MIDI Controler.

A Roland V-Drum Clamp holds the Oxy8 on the leg of the Steel.

The Oxy8 allows me to select the sound I want from the MicroPiano, so I can put it far away from me. All control is via the keyboard. The MicroPiano's audio goes to a PA channel.

I surprized the band with it. We have a few original songs recorded with Honky Tonk piano solos. This is the first time they were played live. I also covered simple solos in songs like Boot Scootin Boogie and Sweet Home Alabama, and the organ outro in Harvest Moon.

All rather easy stuff to play on a keyboard, but gave the band sound a whole new demension. The club owner even comented on it at the end of the night.

There's also a Match-Bro attached to the leg. It's not connected to the keyboard in any way.

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 28 Jul 2004 1:46 pm

Very cool Joey. I hope your pay scale is going up now!
The big question now is, have you played the keys in the middle of a steel song and if you do, do you take your picks off?!!
(fingerpicking keyboard playing!)

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 28 Jul 2004 2:56 pm

No extra pay, except for my sense of acomplishment.

If I have to switch quick, I play without picks. On most of the songs I have plenty of time to slip them off and on.

The steel sounds so good after it was not played for a verse or two. [This message was edited by Joey Ace on 28 July 2004 at 03:57 PM.]

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 2 Aug 2004 7:06 pm

I usually never look in this section, so I just saw this thread--the setup you've got there is exactly what I've been planning to do. I'm glad to see that it works. I've been debating in my head whether to go with the Oxygen 8 or the bigger Radium 49 (or possibly even the Edirol PCR 30). I like the fact that the Oxygen is so small and would balance with no problems, but it would be nice to have the extra faders and bigger keyboard. But then the Oxygen is cheaper, and probably suits my needs more or less... but then I'll mostly be using it at home in front of my computer, where the extra keys and extra faders would be handy, and they're not that much more expensive... Aargh.

The clamp thing is perfect.

-Travis

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 3 Aug 2004 2:21 am

The answer for me was a short keyboard for live, and a larger keyboard for home. The synth module is the expensive part and is interchangeable.

The short keybord allows octaves to be switched so the only limitation is there's only room for one hand.

When I'm practicing at home, the shelf on the clamp is used to hold my laptop.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 3 Aug 2004 2:26 am

The Emu and Kurzweills sound great, there are some good Korgs too, for a bit less $.